Google Maps About 40 firefighters from three towns responded to a fire at 29 Drake Ave. shortly before 10 a.m. The fire claimed one life.

MONROE — Town officials are investigating a fatal house fire that broke out this morning.

About 40 firefighters from three towns responded to the fire at 29 Drake Ave. shortly before 10 a.m.

Monroe Fire Chief Lonnie Pipero said responders located one person in the burning house and quickly brought him outside.

"He was out of the house quickly, probably within three minutes after firefighters got there," Pipero said.

Police withheld the name of the victim and other information about the fire, pending notification of next of kin.

Maryann Kussavage, who lives two doors away, said she was outside her house at 9:20 and saw nothing. She went inside and within about 30 minutes, saw fire trucks lining the street, and saw the house at 29 Drake Ave. engulfed in smoke.

Within minutes, Kussavage saw flames across the house.

"It was the worst thing I think I've ever seen," she said.

When Pipero arrived, he said, he saw heavy smoke from a rear corner of the house, in the area of the kitchen.

Firefighters from Monroe, Jamesburg and East Brunswick brought the blaze under control with 40 minutes, Pipero said. He said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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